Boston Sports Then and Now

Couture potted his team leading 8th and 9th goals last night.

Logan Couture scored his team leading 8^th and 9^th goals, including his league leading 6^th game winning goal of the season as the Sharks won their 6^th straight game in a 4-2 win over the Falcons at the Mass Mutual Center on Friday night.

Worcester’s Alex Stalock made 20 saves and Benn Ferriero added a goal and an assist as the Sharks defeated the Falcons for the 4^th straight time this season.

Benn Ferreiro (2^nd goal) gave Worcester a 1-0 lead after he pounced on a loose puck in front and fired it past Andrew Perugini at 11:34.  The goal was the result of a great rush by Steven Zalewski and Danny Groulx, but it was Ferreiro that cashed in with an unassisted goal.

Nick Petrecki and Theo Peckham dropped the gloves, helmets, and sticks at 13:34 and picked up fighting majors.  The fight stemmed back to a late hit by Peckham on Petrecki on November 25^th.

The Sharks led 1-0 after twenty minutes outshooting the Falcons 13-7.

The Sharks took a 2-0 lead after Dwight Helminen’s (4^th goal) shot from a tough angle 45 feet  away broke off the glove of Perugini and into the net.  Dennis McCauley and Kevin Henderson received assists on the play.  On the power play, Logan Couture (8^th goal) gave Worcester a 3-0 lead after his shot from the left circle snuck through the pads of the rookie netminder at 9:51. 

After the goal, Springfield head coach Rob Daum pulled Andrew Perugini in favor of Aaron Sorochan.  The Sharks led 3-0 after forty minutes of play.

The Falcons scored twice early in the third period as Colton Fretter (11^th goal) struck at :53 seconds on the power play after Alex Stalock lost the puck behind his own net.   Adam Henrich (2^nd goal) scored to cut the Sharks lead to 3-2 at 3:33.

But Logan Couture scored a pretty goal after a give-and-go with Benn Ferriero on the power play at 13:12 to give Worcester a two goal advantage.  The Sharks held off a late Springfield attack to defeat the Falcons 4-2.

With the win, the Sharks swim to 14-10-0-1 (29 points) on the season and currently have a six game winning streak (6-0-0-0).

Notes: Three stars: (3) Benn Ferriero (1-1-2), (2) Colton Fretter (1-1-2), (1) Logan Couture (2-0-2)… before the game, San Jose loaned Derek Joslin and Ryan Vesce to Worcester, neither made it in time for the game. Alex Stalock wore his commemorative W6 Tribute mask, which he will be wearing in all games until the Sharks’ Heroes Night – A Tribute to the Worcester 6 on December 6^th… Stalock made 20 saves for the Sharks, Perugini  made 15 saves on 18 shots in 29:51 of play and Sorochan made 18 of 19 stops in 28:09 for the Falcons… Worcester went 2/6 on the power play…Springfield went 1/5 on the power play… Final shots were 37-22 in favor of the Sharks…. Dennis McCauley recorded his first pro assist on the goal scored by Helminen… Worcester is 4-0-0-0 against the Falcons this season.

On Saturday, the Sharks travel to the Verizon Wireless Arena to battle the Monarchs in Manchester at 7:00pm.

On Sunday, the Sharks host the Portland Pirates on Heroes Night – A Tribute to the Worcester 6 presented by Charter Communications. The Apache Stone band featuring Michael Lombardi from Rescue Me will perform and sign autographs before and after the Sharks game.  Doors open at 12:00p.m.

Schedule of Events on Sunday:

• 12:00p.m. DCU Center doors open (one ticket for all events)
• 12:15p.m. Worcester Fire and Police vs. Providence Fire hockey game
• 1:30p.m. Rescue vehicles on the DCU Center plaza for kids to explore
• 1:45-2:20p.m.  Apache Stone performance
• 2:45p.m. Special on-ice pregame ceremony hosted by Charter TV3’s Kevin Shea which includes a honorary banner raised to the DCU Center rafters by a representative from each of the Worcester 6 Firefighters families
• 3:05p.m. Worcester Sharks vs. Portland Pirates
• 2:00 -5:00p.m Free DIGIKIDS Child ID program courtesy of Charter Communications.
• Game end-4:45p.m.  Apache Stone performance
• 5:15p.m. Game worn jersey auction

Portion of the proceeds from ticket sales, jersey auction and goalie mask auction will be donated to the Worcester Fire Scholarship Program and the burn care unit at Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Get your Family Four Pack today (4 tickets and 4 Sharks camo hats) starting at just $65!

Now in their fourth season in Worcester, the Sharks look forward to another exciting season highlighted by the improvements of the ice surface at the DCU Center and the reduction of season ticket prices! Sharks fans may secure their 2009-10 season tickets today by calling 508-929-0500. Some of the exclusive benefits for full season ticket holders will include:

·         Guaranteed same seat for all 40 home dates and playoff home games at the    DCU Center

·         Significant savings off box office ticket prices

·         Priority access to purchase tickets to DCU Center events (subject to availability)

Season ticket packages, group tickets, and individual tickets for the 2009-10 season are on sale now by contacting the Worcester Sharks Office at 508.929.0500 or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.

All games can be heard live on 580AM and 94.9FM WTAG, as well as online through AHL Live, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.SharksAHL.com.

The previous story is excepted from a press release by the Worcester Sharks of the AHL and reprinted by freelance writer Todd Civin. Civin is a freelance writer who writes for Bleacher Report, Sports, Then and Now, and Seamheads. He is a supporter of, A Glove of Their Own, the award-winning children’s story that teaches paying it forward through baseball.